Plans for Kimbrose Way

Gloucestershire County Council is asking Gloucester City Council for permission to create ‘St Kyneburgh’s Tower’ and an art screen in Kimbrose Square.

The artwork has been commissioned by the Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company (GHURC).

The main attraction will be the 18 metre high tower, which has been designed by artist Tom Price who was inspired by the story of St Kyneburgh.

The tragic saint is said to have been killed and thrown into a well and in the legend, the well later became known as St Kyneburgh’s Fountain. St Kyneburgh’s Church was supposed to have been later built in what is now known as Kimbrose Way.

Taking inspiration from the legend, both pieces of art have been designed to emulate flowing water and the tower will have openings so people can view up the inside.

The tower will be built from a series of zinc coated mild steel slats spaced at varying intervals and the bottom two metres will be tightly spaced to prevent climbing and the potential to trap fingers.

As it is 18 metres high it will serve as a focal point for visitors travelling between the Docks and the city centre and help guide footfall.

The art screen, which will be placed along the back of the buildings in Kimbrose Triangle, will be 30.3metres long, varying in height up to three metres.

The snaking design will also be created using be zinc coated mild steel.

Cllr Chas Fellows, cabinet member for regeneration, has been instrumental in pushing for more public art to be created in Gloucestershire and was the founder of the Stroud Arts Award.

He said: “I am extremely passionate about public art and I think that this is a real gem, which has been made all the more interesting by using Gloucester’s rich history as inspiration.

“This is a very striking sculpture which will form a fantastic focal point for the new Kimbrose Square and help guide visitors and shoppers between the Docks and the city centre.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing this artwork take centre stage when the project finishes in November.”

Chris Oldershaw, chief executive of the GHURC, said: “This public art will enhance a formerly run-down, little-visited area of the city helping to turn this area into a vibrant pedestrian thoroughfare where people feel free to wander freely from the Quays and spend more time and money in the city centre.”

The application will be submitted this week and Gloucester City Council’s planning committee should make its decision by the end of the summer.